Bob Graham

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

November 2003

Graham not running

Sen. Bob Graham not only dropped out of the presidential race he is dropping out of the U.S. Senate. Taking a break from his now famous workdays repairing the roof of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, he announced that he would not be a candidate for the Senate. It was Graham’s 391st workday. Graham reflected on his goals in office and pledged that he would not shirk from pursuing those goals. He also recounted that his first workday began in the Miami-Carol City Senior High School when he announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida.

The Miami Herald is reporting that the withdrawal of Graham leaves the race wide open:

The Democratic slate could make for one of the most explosive primaries in years, with representatives from nearly every Democratic base group in the mix: Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, who is Hispanic; U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, who is Jewish; U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, who is black; and former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor, the only female candidate in the race.

And they report the Republican field is not settled:

The Republican field -- now mostly hard-line conservatives -- may not be set either. Since the exit of the early front-runner, U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, several wealthy Republicans have complained that the field is too conservative and have floated the idea of financing their own campaigns. Late Monday, Attorney General Charlie Crist, who lost to Graham in 1998, would not rule out entering the race, saying friends had encouraged him to run. (11/04/2003)

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